Previews, picks for Week 12 high school football

Wednesday

Here's a look at this week's local matchups with predictions by sports editor Richard Walker and sports writers Dustin George and Joe Hughes.

Bandys at North Lincoln

Storyline: The South Fork 2A title is on the line in a series Bandys leads 3-1 since it started in 2011. Bandys won 53-50 at home last season in an offensive shootout.

Bessemer City at Cherryville

Twitter: @gcprofpowell

Radio: WCSL-AM 1590

Storyline: The second meeting this season of longtime rivals who first met in 1930. Bessemer City's all-time series lead is 33-32-2 after Cherryville won 17-14 at Bessemer City earlier this season to end a five-game Yellow Jackets' winning streak in the rivalry.

Storyline: Burns holds a 25-4 lead in a series that began in 1977. That includes a 36-33 win at Burns last season that increased the Bulldogs' winning streak over North Gaston to 20 games. North Gaston's last win came in 1986.

Storyline: Huss seeks a first-ever 11-0 regular season and a third straight win over the rival Green Wave. Ashbrook leads the all-time series that began in 1964 by a 32-21 margin.

Picks: Dustin George - Huss, Joe Hughes - Huss, Richard Walker - Huss

Lincolnton at Maiden

Radio: WLON-AM 1050/WLON-FM 107.5

Storyline: One of Lincolnton's oldest series - it started in 1925 - resumes with the Wolves holding a 25-19-1 all-time lead. Maiden has won the last two games, including 28-21 last season.

Mountain Island Charter at Highland Tech

Twitter: @carsondockery

Storyline: Highland Tech returns home after snapping a 33-game conference losing streak in Monday's 46-32 victory at Union Academy. Mountain Island Charter has won all three previous meetings, including 66-15 last season.

Storyline: A series that began in 1974 is led 11-8 all-time by Newton-Conover. The Red Devils also won 39-21 last season.

South Point at Shelby - George

Twitter: @dustinatthestar

Radio: WCGC-AM 1270, WOHS-AM 1390/WOHS-FM 101.5

Storyline: The 14th time in the 53 games a conference title in the on the line in their matchup. This time its the 2018 Southwestern 2A title for a series led 37-15 all-time by Shelby. The teams split their two meetings last season, with South Point winning 35-15 in the regular season and Shelby winning 33-23 in the second round of the N.C. 2AA playoffs.